Assam SIT Raids NEIF Organiser’s Guwahati Home in Zubeen Garg Death Probe

GUWAHATI-  The investigation into the tragic death of Assam’s iconic singer Zubeen Garg took a major turn on Thursday as the Assam Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), in coordination with the CID, conducted a high-profile raid at the residence of event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta in Guwahati.

The operation, lasting several hours, led to the seizure of seven mobile phones, two laptops, nine hard disks, and other  documents believed to contain critical information about the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death in Singapore on September 19.

Also Read- Assam Bids Emotional Farewell to Cultural Icon Zubeen Garg in Historic Funeral Procession

Mahanta, Managing Director-CEO of MMS Advisory and organiser of the North East India Festival (NEIF), remains at large, though unconfirmed reports suggest he is en route to Assam and may surrender before Guwahati Police.

The raid, carried out under tight security with CRPF personnel deployed, saw SIT and CID officers meticulously searching Mahanta’s residence. Only two domestic helpers were present, and Mahanta’s family members were reportedly absent. Seized items were taken in sealed boxes, amid crowds of agitated fans chanting “Justice for Zubeen.”

Also Read- Assam Weeps as Zubeen Garg’s Final Journey Brings State to a Standstill

This action is part of a multi-pronged SIT probe formed on September 24 under the direct orders of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The 10-member team, led by CID Special DG Munna Prasad Gupta, has already detained Garg’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami for questioning. Parallel searches were conducted at the residences of Garg’s manager, Siddhartha Sharma, and Goswami. Neighbors reported Sharma’s family vacated the premises shortly after Garg’s death, raising suspicions.

The probe consolidates over 55 FIRs across Assam into a single case under Sections 61(2), 105, and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Zubeen Garg, 52, a cultural icon whose songs like “Ya Ali” and “Mayabini” gained international acclaim, was cremated with state honors on September 22, drawing tens of thousands of mourners. The state observed three days of mourning from September 20-22.

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Chief Minister Sarma, who oversaw the SIT formation, reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance policy. He warned against rumor-mongering and confirmed that Mahanta and associated organisations are permanently barred from state-sponsored events. Protests have erupted outside Mahanta and Sharma’s residences, with fans demanding justice.

As SIT prepares to summon remaining yacht group members and NEIF associates, forensic analysis of seized gadgets could reveal vital communications or financial trails.

The SIT’s ongoing investigation signals an unwavering quest for accountability and closure for Assam’s cultural community.